Eligible voters can select their choice for new Mayors, Councillors, School Board Trustees and/or Regional District Directors at a variety of polling locations across the region, with a full list below.

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

NanaimoNewsNOW will have complete coverage of results as they come Saturday evening, with a live blog updating regularly and updates on air through our radio partners: 102.3 The Wave, 106.9 The Wolf, 88.5 The Beach and The Lounge 99.9.

Advance voting through the mid-Island was extremely strong, with around 7,000 ballots already cast in Nanaimo, a 58 per cent increase over 2022’s advance totals.

Qualicum Beach also saw an increase in pre-turnout, while Parksville saw a minor drop.

City of Nanaimo polling stations:

• Beban Park Social Centre (2300 Bowen Rd.)
• Brechin Elementary School (510 Millstone Ave.)
• Chase River Elementary School (1503 Cranberry Ave.)
• City of Nanaimo Service and Resource Centre (411 Dunsmuir St.)
• Dover Bay Secondary School (6135 McGirr Rd.)
• John Barsby Secondary School (550 Seventh St.)
• Nanaimo District Secondary School (355 Wakesiah Ave.)
• Protection Island Fire Hall (26 Pirates Lane (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. only))
• Randerson Ridge Elementary School (6021 Nelson Rd.)
• Uplands Park Elementary School (3821 Stronach Dr.)
• Wellington Secondary School (3135 Mexicana Rd.)

City of Parksville polling stations:

• Jensen Centre (132 Jensen Ave. East)
• Parksville Fellowship Baptist Church (550 Pym St.)

Town of Qualicum Beach polling stations:

• Civic Centre (747 Jones St.)

District of Lantzville polling stations:

• Costin Hall (7232 Lantzville Rd.)

An interactive map of RDN polling stations, by electoral area, is available by clicking here.

Running simultaneously, at separate locations, is advance voting for the Provincial Election, with details on where to vote available here.

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Nanaimo’s scoring leader Charles Beland got his team off on the right foot by powering his way to the net front in the first period to capture his 10th goal of the season.

The game stayed that way into the third period thanks to the goaltending of Ryder Shea and the Clippers Grayson Hanggi.

A perfect deflection from Caden Okovita put Nanaimo up a pair six minutes into the final frame on a sharp set up by Murray Kanerva.

The Crusaders got their only goal with 11 seconds left in the game and their goalie pulled on a shot from the high slot by Casey Bridgewater.

That goal spoiled Hanggi’s shutout bid but he was named the first star in his first BCHL win with 21 saves.

Overall the Clippers outshot Sherwood Park 32-22 and each team finished 0/2 on the man advantage.

Nanaimo played their third game in four days and will make it four in five with a trip to Okotoks on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. pacific time.

Last year the Clippers and Oilers met at the BCHL Showcase with Nanaimo winning 4-2.

The game in Okotoks will finish off a stretch of seven of eight games away from Frank Crane Arena.

Nanaimo will return to home ice to wrap up their October schedule on Oct. 23 and 25 against Powell River and Chilliwack.

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A Nanaimo RCMP stated Shane Edward Steinhauer, 50, is accused of stabbing another person in north Nanaimo during an evening altercation on Friday, Oct. 9.

“During the incident, an adult man sustained serious injuries. Steinhauer left the area before police arrived. Despite ongoing efforts by investigators, Steinhauer has not been located,” Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien stated in a news release.

Nanaimo RCMP describe Steinhauer as a Caucasian male, standing 6,3′, and weighing 190 pounds with a tattoos on his neck, head, and left arm.

An arrest warrant for Steinhauer was approved by a judge on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

 “If you see Steinhauer, do not approach but call 911. If you have information on his whereabouts, please call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 1-250-754-2345,” the release stated.

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Steve and Penny Jones have again opened the front yard of their Tulsa Rd. home, off Meredith Rd., to Halloween enthusiasts with an extensive, immersive, and interactive display featuring a range of lights, decorations, and animatronics.

Steve told NanaimoNewsNOW during an evening interview in front of their home they began decorating their property and constructing a huge walkthrough feature in mid-August.

“It’s part planning, part making it up as you go. I built the rough footprint of the thing, and then we had to pull things out and think about where are we going to put this? Where are we going to put that? Where things are going to fit?”

The main feature is a walkable haunted house which snakes through the property’s front yard. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A large monkey animatronic proved to be a troublesome feature for this year’s design, with its size and wingspan forcing Steve to make a late alteration to the structure of the haunted house to accommodate it.

He estimates the family has put well over 500 hours into creating this year’s display, which draws thousands to their home throughout October.

A major focus for this year’s display was creating some elements on their own.

New this year is a photo bench with a clown, which hides some surprises for those brave enough to sit and stay for a while.

“We bought the bench, bought the parts, put it together,” Penny said. “There’s a box in the haunted house, and the clowns are just popping up and down, Steve built that. We built the tombstone, and when we have it on the weekend, the fog comes out of it, and the eyes are lit up red, so we’ve moved to more building our own stuff.”

More and more elements are being made by the Jones’ for their display, including a wooden bench with a clown, which carries a few surprises. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Officially opened Oct. 1, both Steve and Penny said they’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the community, many of whom have left notes of support for their work.

Steve noted a representative from D.B.L. Disposal Services showed up unannounced one day, offering a free porta-potty and servicing for the month.

Already strong nightly crowds are expected to grow closer to Halloween.

“Last year on Halloween we had people until almost 1 a.m.,” Penny added. “They were actually lined up around the corner, and we had to have people working the doors and only let a few people in at a time because it doesn’t give the animatronics enough time to reset if everybody’s just continually going in.”

The property is open, with elements turned on from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. nightly, but the Jones’ say they’ll leave it going a bit later on weekends and Halloween night itself.

One of the displays in the haunted house walkthrough. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

They both credit the support of their neighbours toward the success of their decorations, with all offering their support, while a handful offer some things to put in the display or other assistance.

Steve said he’s not sure how they’ll improve on the display next year, but planning for 2027 has already begun.

“It’s like a piece of art or something, eventually, you have to just walk away from it. You can spend forever painting the painting until it’s perfect, but it never will be, so eventually, you just have to say it’s done and just move on to the next painting.”

A large number of people have attended the home since it opened Oct. 1. (Image Credit: Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Nanaimo RCMP said on Thursday, Oct. 15, just before 3 p.m. the girls, aged 12 and 13, were walking on Waldbank Rd., near Sechelt Dr., from school when they passed an unknown male who began quickly walking in their direction.

Rsv. Cst. Gary O’Brien said the girls felt concerned and ran to a nearby home and asked for help from the person inside.

“The neighbour came out, and this individual left. They were able to provide a description. Our members attended, and we weren’t able to find him. But nevertheless, the girls did exactly what they were supposed to do. They followed their instincts. They went to a house, and thank goodness there was somebody there that came to their assistance, and they reported it immediately. This is exactly what you need to do.”

The male suspect is described as a Caucasian male, in his late teens to early 20s, with blonde/brown hair, wearing a black and blue plaid jacket, dark pants, and grey shoes.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 1-250-754-2345, file number 2026-34596.

O’Brien said the man’s behaviour was troubling to the girls, and that was enough for them to act.

“We call it the spidey sense. They felt something was wrong. The behaviour of the individual was a marked departure from the normal. They knew this wasn’t right, so they left the situation immediately. They didn’t try to engage with the person. They didn’t follow them. They left the person. They put time and distance between themselves and him.”

The RCMP Youth Section has taken over the investigation.

Operations Officer for the Nanaimo RCMP, Insp. Donovan Tait said the girls made the right call listening to their instincts and getting help from a nearby adult.

“Their actions are a good reminder that if something doesn’t feel right, move to a safe place and find a trusted adult.”

Police encourage youth to trust their instincts, be aware of their surroundings, and seek assistance if they ever feel unsafe.

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Air Canada has announced they will be filming promotional content for their new Airbus A321XLR plane above Vancouver Island, Vancouver International Airport and the Lower Mainland on Friday, Oct. 16.

A specific flight path was not made public, however the jet will be accompanied by a twin-engine plane for the shoot and is due to take off from YVR around 3 p.m.

Those interested in tracking the flight can use online tools such as FlightRadar24 and the flight number AC7101.

The A321XLR is one of Airbus’ long-haul offerings, flying upwards of 4,700 nautical miles, and it’s expected to be used for trans-Atlantic routes bridging eastern Canada with Europe.

It will also likely be used for cross-country connections and flights from the Toronto/Montreal area to the west coast of the United States.

The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 244 passengers and boasts lower carbon emissions and less noise for passengers.

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A six-day advance voting period opens Friday, Oct. 16, through Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, ahead of general election day on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Unlike the municipal election, numerous advance voting locations are present in each riding.

In Nanaimo-Gabriola Island, ballots can be cast at The Moose Lodge #1052 (1356 Cranberry Ave.), South Wellington Community Centre (2195 South Wellington Rd.), St. Paul’s Anglican Church (100 Chapel St.), VIU Building 300 (900 Fifth St.), and at the Gabriola Island Community Centre (2200 South Rd.)

Voters in Nanaimo-Lantzville are directed to Nanaimo North Town Centre (4750 Rutherford Rd.), Wellington Hall (3922 Corunna Ave.) or Costin Hall (7232 Lantzville Rd.)

Ladysmith-Oceanside ballots are being collected at Parksville’s Jensen Centre (132 Jensen Ave. E), and Winchelsea Learning Centre (140 Renz Rd.), Qualicum Beach’s Kwalikum Secondary School (266 Village Way), Ladysmith’s Saltair Community Centre (3850 South Oyster School Rd.).

Voters east of Cameron Lake in Mid Island Pacific Rim can vote at the Lighthouse Community Centre in Bowser (240 Lions Way) or Coombs Fairground Activity Hall (1014 Ford Rd.)

A complete list of advance voting locations is available here through Election BC.

Voter turnout in local ridings was strong for the 2024 provincial election, with all four ridings seeing notable increases from 2020.

Ladysmith-Oceanside saw 67.19 per cent turnout, with Nanaimo-Lantzville behind at 64.31 per cent, Mid-Island Pacific Rim seeing 59.62 per cent and Nanaimo-Gabriola at 58.86 per cent.

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The City of Parksville expects crews to begin revitalizing Stanford Ave. E between McCarter St. and Shelly Rd. from late this month with an expected substantial completion of late next summer.

Shawn Boven, City of Parksville director of engineering and information systems, said the 1.2 kilometre construction area was identified in their Transportation Master Plan endorsed last year.

“We are excited about the pedestrian and multi-modal transportation upgrades to this section of road,” Boven said. Currently, there is some sidewalk on the north side, but there is significant gaps, so this will close the gaps and add the multi-use pathway on the south side.”

Rendering of pending enhancements to Stanford Ave E. (Image Credit: City of Parksville)

The project also involves traffic calming elements, including the conversion of a portion of Corfield St. S. from four lanes to two.

Watermain improvements and stormwater enhancements are also included.

Boven expects their contractor to begin work this fall, but said the intent is to minimize disruptions this winter.

A bulk of the work is expected to take place during next spring and summer for the corridor which serves as a primary supplement to using Hwy. 19A through Parksville.

The project is budgeted at $8.3 million, according to the City, with the potential of assistance via ICBC.

More information on the project can be found here.

Overhead view of the construction zone to be addressed on Stanford Ave. E, as well as a portion of Corfield St. (Image Credit: City of Parksville)

Boven noted that the Stanford Ave. E renewal fits well with a pair of other nearby active mobility projects.

He said the Stanford Ave. E work creates strong synergy with the ongoing pathway project which will eventually link Shelly Rd. east of Hwy. 19A with the Community Park.

“Between that and this work on Stanford Ave., it will almost form a loop that people can do,” Boven said.

Additionally, crews are nearing completion of nearly 500 meters of new sidewalk on the south side of the Alberni Hwy., installing two new crosswalks at Bernard Ave. and Hickey Ave. as well as adding new streetlights.

“It ties in a pedestrian link from a fairly heavily densely populated area near Quality Foods and provides a direct link into the downtown core,” Boven told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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The incident unfolded on Sept. 17 at around 3:30 p.m. when the woman told police she was walking in Nanaimo’s downtown, near the Front St. bus exchange

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said things happened quite quickly.

“The woman reported she was walking southbound on Front St., crossing near Port Place [Shopping Centre], when an unknown man suddenly grabbed her and touched her inappropriately. This person was then seen entering bus 40, which takes passengers towards Vancouver Island University.”

Pictures obtained from security footage of the area show the face of the suspect, with police also hoping a blue and purple backpack will help their officers identify the individual.

The suspect is described as a Caucasian male in his late 20s, approximately 5’7″, medium build, with sandy/red hair, and wearing a black hoodie.

Anyone who recognizes the man shown in the photographs or has information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345. (Image Credit: Nanaimo RCMP)

Police ask anyone who may know the person or have details about the incident in question to contact the detachment at 1-250-754-2345.

O’Brien said in the weeks following the reported assault, officers have made several attempts to identify the individual.

“The investigator would do all the work necessary on the ground, we’ll try and find witnesses and try and find CCTV footage to gather and update the file. We’ll send it internally to all our members to see if anybody can identify who these people are, and at this point we’re striking out.”

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Data from the BC Coroners Service shows that 113 people died in July, and 126 people in August, with those figures down 50 per cent and 40 per cent from their respective peaks in 2023.

In Nanaimo, 19 people lost their lives to toxic street drugs during that time, for 52 total deaths in total this year.

Across Vancouver Island, 40 people died during the summer months.

This time last year, 48 deaths from street drugs occurred in Nanaimo.

In 2019, 27 deaths were recorded in Nanaimo, peaking at 115 in 2023, before reducing to 94 in 2024 and 71 in 2025.

Province-wide, deaths from January to August this year reached 1,015, down 41 per cent from the same period in 2023 when deaths peaked across the province, and down 18 per cent from last year.

The data shows there were 3.6 unregulated drug deaths per day in July and 4.1 in August, hitting their lowest levels since 2019.

Those dying continued to be overwhelmingly male (76 per cent), with 69 per cent between the ages of 30 and 59.

Fluorofentanyl has become the most common substance detected in expedited toxicological testing, discovered in 68 per cent of unregulated drug deaths.

Cocaine (56 per cent) is the second most-detected substance, followed by methamphetamine (53 per cent), fentanyl (50 per cent) and desalkylgidazepam (21 per cent).

It shows the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities each suffered 68 deaths in July and August combined, the highest number in B.C.

Toxic drug deaths in B.C. have been in steep decline since peaking at 2,591 in 2023, mirroring a phenomenon being experienced across much of North America.

So far this year, 1,015 people have died across B.C. from toxic street drugs.

— With files from the Canadian Press.

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